US Cellular is one of the larger regional carriers in the US, and has a pretty solid nationwide coverage map. Recently, they have begun rolling out an LTE network, with the high-speed network reaching portions of Maine, Wisconsin, Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Iowa. Before today, US Cellular only offered one LTE-capable device, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1“.

Starting today, US Cellular will begin selling their first LTE-capable Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator. Yes, you read that right; the Aviator is a variant of the original Galaxy S line, and not the more-powerful Galaxy S II series. Fortunately, the original Galaxy S is definitely one of the better older Android devices, and it will only set you back $99.99 after $100 mail-in-rebate Mastercard.

Full specs for the Galaxy S Aviator include:

AndroidTM 2.3 (Gingerbread)

4.3″ Super AMOLEDâ„¢ Plus Screen

1GHz Hummingbird Processor

8 MP Camera with LED Flash

1.3 MP Front-facing Camera

1.4GB of Internal Memory

Though we’re certainly not blown away by a device with a single-core Hummingbird processor when quad-core Tegra 3 devices are starting to eek their way out, the Galaxy S Aviator provides a solid option for US Cellular customers who want to board the LTE train.

Any US Cellular customers out there? Plan on picking up the Galaxy S Aviator, or are you holding out for a slightly more powerful device?

I know a couple people here you were asking my advice about USC. I don’t know if I can recommend this device to them. Yeah, it’ll be good for them to be LTE, but not when (much) better devices are in the pipeline. The Charge came out last year. I am sure it’s a capable device, but when they have the GS2, it’s really a no-brainer. I am sure this summer will bring much better devices to run on their LTE.

Also, I had to do a double take on the internal memory. First, I read 14 GB; on the second look I was all “WTF, 1.4GB?!?”

That’s pretty impressive giving that US Cellular isn’t even a major carrier. They seem to be on par with larger carriers (AT&T and Verizon) just about. I don’t understand why MetroPCS who is larger than US cellular can’t compete with US Cellular.

I still can’t believe that USC rolled out LTE to my metro area before Verizon. Still, all my USC Blackberry toting friends are going to pass on this. They are still waiting on a proper Android LTE handset.

I know a couple people here you were asking my advice about USC. I don’t know if I can recommend this device to them. Yeah, it’ll be good for them to be LTE, but not when (much) better devices are in the pipeline. The Charge came out last year. I am sure it’s a capable device, but when they have the GS2, it’s really a no-brainer. I am sure this summer will bring much better devices to run on their LTE.

Also, I had to do a double take on the internal memory. First, I read 14 GB; on the second look I was all “WTF, 1.4GB?!?”

That’s pretty impressive giving that US Cellular isn’t even a major carrier. They seem to be on par with larger carriers (AT&T and Verizon) just about. I don’t understand why MetroPCS who is larger than US cellular can’t compete with US Cellular.

I still can’t believe that USC rolled out LTE to my metro area before Verizon. Still, all my USC Blackberry toting friends are going to pass on this. They are still waiting on a proper Android LTE handset.